This month’s School Health Programs Department campaign focuses on nutrition education and physical health issues, healthy food choices, physical activity promotion and body image education. Schools can encourage healthier eating by teaching lessons and sponsoring activities that promote a diet which includes fruits & vegetables and promotes snacking on nutrient-rich foods that are low in sugar, fat and sodium. Many of these lessons and more ideas can be found in the Nutrition Education Project area of our site.
Schools are encouraged to support and promote the District’s Wellness Policy in the prevention of obesity, diabetes and heart disease.
COMMITMENT TO LEARNING
Asset #21-Achievement Motivation, #22-School Engagement, #24-Bonding to School, #25 Reading for Pleasure:
Young person is motivated to do well in school by having time allotted by school site or home for completing homework, reading for pleasure and caring for his/her school. Schools can provide tutoring time, homework assistance, school spirit activities and youth engaging reading opportunities.
Asset Building
Activities
- Asset #21- Provide healthy incentives to students. Avoid using food as a reward and instead reward students with activities, increased privileges, praise or other incentives to acknowledge success.
- Asset #22, #24 – Provide opportunities for students to bond with their school by helping students organize School Service Activities or a “School Spirit Week”. In addition, give awards or incentives to the grade that contributes most to improving the appearance of the school.
- Asset #25 – Encourage students to read for pleasure at least three hours a week by providing time in the classroom, after school, creating classroom/school wide reading contests, or holding Family Literacy Night events.
Other Youth Development Activities
to Implement Health Awareness
- Post a classroom, school, or cafeteria bulletin board with student photos to highlight nutrition education activities and events.
- Invite student nutrition food workers to make classroom presentations on job duties, healthy eating or cafeteria rules.
- Create a site committee that includes students, parents, teachers, and food service staff in support of the SFUSD Nutrition & Physical Activity Policy.
- Have students set goals for healthy eating habits and monitor progress (e.g. including a fruit with morning cereal, decreasing consumption of soda).
- Middle School: Students can view Teen Files Flipped “Eating Disorders/Steroids” video.
- All Levels: Students can view the Body Talk videos.
For more ideas, see the
Nutrition Education Project website.
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